Clare Boothe Luce

Luce, Clare Boothe, 1903–87, American playwright and diplomat, whose name originally was Anne Clare Boothe, b. New York City. Witty, outspoken, and an articulate political conservative, Luce began her career writing for Vogue and Vanity Fair in 1930, soon becoming managing editor of the latter magazine. She married publisher Henry Luce in 1935, and the following year her play The Women, satirizing wealthy New York matrons, succeeded on Broadway. Other hits were Kiss the Boys Goodbye (1938) and Margin for Error (1939). She was twice elected to the House of Representatives (1943–47) as a Republican from Connecticut. During the Eisenhower administration (1953–56) she served as ambassador to Italy. Her other writings include Stuffed Shirts (1933) and Europe in the Spring (1940).